Kashi Kashi Cafe

Kashi Kashi Cafe

Kashi Kashi Cafe is an innovative interior design project located in Akutagawa, Takatsuki city, Osaka, Japan, that exemplifies the harmonious integration of traditional Japanese architectural elements with contemporary spatial design principles. Conceived by designer Tomonobu Kawakami, this 103.5-square-meter establishment embodies the concept of Dance of Wind, utilizing natural ventilation through its deep floor space and strategic positioning of architectural elements. The design's distinctive feature lies in its minimalist approach, employing 45mm square wooden prisms arranged in a rhythmic pattern to delineate functional spaces while maintaining visual continuity. This innovative use of timber pillars creates a subtle interplay between interior and exterior spaces, effectively blurring conventional boundaries. The space incorporates existing structural elements and original lighting fixtures repurposed as indirect illumination, demonstrating a resourceful approach to renovation. The interior's material palette includes AEP paint for walls, deck plate with spray paint for the ceiling, and clear dust-proof paint on AEP paint for flooring, all carefully selected to create an atmosphere of security and trust. The design, which earned a Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category in 2017, successfully creates a welcoming environment that facilitates social interactions while honoring the local cultural context. The cafe features a garden area for enjoying tea and sweets, embodying the project's aim to foster meaningful encounters between people and place, while the intentionally unpainted prisms are designed to develop character through natural alteration over time, rather than mere aging.

cafe design, Japanese architecture, interior space, natural ventilation, timber construction, minimalist design

— Adam Dawson